MAM
Misleading ad gives wrong notions about blood donation: Health Ministry
NEW DELHI: Despite a letter to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) by the Health Ministry, an advertisement that can potentially mislead blood donors is still running on air.
The advertisement has been put out by carwale.com – which sells used cars or car parts – and attempted to prove that the need for exactness in demand. The ad shows a doctor talking to someone on the phone for more blood for a patient. He says if you do not have more units of ‘A’, then send ‘AB’ type, and saying 19-20 ka farak hai (just a minor difference). The aim of the commercial is to say that there has to be exactness in what the customer wants.
The Health Ministry has taken objection to the commercial as it creates doubts in the minds of the donors.
The National AIDS Control Board, which is expected to check every blood sample for AIDS, has written to ASCI to ensure that the advertisement is pulled off air as it does not meet ASCI’s standards of honest representations.
Under Indian laws, human blood is treated as a ‘drug’ under the Drugs & Cosmetics (D&C) Act. During the HIV/AIDS crisis, the Indian government made it mandatory for any donated blood to be tested for HIV 1&2 antibodies, giving the Blood Safety Programme to NACO.
ASCI secretary-general Shweta Purandare told media that a decision on the complaint had not been taken yet. “We usually do not speak about individual complaints. In this case, we haven’t conveyed our final decision to the Ministry,” she said.
MAM
Kenneth Roman, former Ogilvy CEO and ad industry veteran, passes away at 95
Longtime Ogilvy & Mather leader and David Ogilvy biographer leaves lasting legacy
NEW YORK: Kenneth Roman, the former chairman and chief executive of Ogilvy & Mather and a defining figure of Madison Avenue’s golden era, has passed away at the age of 95. He died on 22 April 2026 at his home in Manhattan.
Roman spent more than two decades at Ogilvy, joining in 1963 as an account executive and steadily rising through the ranks to lead the agency as chairman and CEO from 1985 to 1989. His tenure coincided with a pivotal period in the company’s history, including its acquisition by WPP.
Beyond the boardroom, Roman was widely respected as the definitive chronicler of the agency’s founder, David Ogilvy. His biography, The King of Madison Avenue, remains one of the most authoritative accounts of modern advertising’s evolution. He also co-authored influential titles such as How to Advertise and Writing That Works, both regarded as essential reading in the industry.
In a tribute, Ogilvy described Roman as a “quietly determined” leader and a lifelong custodian of the agency’s culture. Even after retirement, he remained closely connected to the firm, contributing articles, mentoring talent and serving as a trusted voice on its history and values.
Colleagues remember him not just for his leadership, but for his generosity and commitment to the craft of writing and storytelling. His presence at industry events and continued engagement with the Ogilvy community reflected a career that never quite slowed down.
Roman’s passing marks the end of an era for the original Madison Avenue generation. He leaves behind a legacy shaped by leadership, authorship and an enduring belief in the power of ideas and people.
